15811/03GAZETTE & HERALD: THEY'RE more like chalk and cheese than two peas in a pod, but twins Peter Dew and Peggy Nash agreed on how to celebrate their 80th birthday in style.

The octogenarians, whose big day is today, are hosting a party for 70 people at the Woodlands Club in Calne tomorrow evening.

Despite wearing matching outfits, sharing the same pram and holding hands wherever they went, they say they are not alike.

"I've always been a head taller than Peter," said Mrs Nash. "He knits and sews and I'm a Leeds United fan. I think we were born the wrong way round."

The twins grew up in Blacklands near Calne.

Mr Dew, of Wenhill Heights, Calne, recalled: "If I got into a scrap at school she'd be over the fence to help me." Mrs Nash added: "I used to mother him and fight all his battles."

When they left school at 14 they both worked for Harris's for a short time before Mr Dew trained as an electrician and Mrs Nash went on to be a children's nurse.

Mr Dew married Brenda Hunt in 1949 and they had three children, Paul, Helen and Heather. He was widowed four years ago and has four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Mrs Nash married Donald Nash in 1948, but has been widowed for 41 years. The couple had four children, Sue, David, Sandie and Keith; ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Mr Dew said: "We're still very close now. I ring Peg up every day and we swap details of films on TV. We both love Shirley Bassey, military bands and puzzles."